Mercy High School students in Farmington Hills are selling raffle tickets through Oct. 5 with a goal of raising $178,500 for the school.

The annual Maroon and Gold raffle, which launched Sept. 25, funds what the school calls the Mercy Fund. That money supports tuition assistance, faculty, curriculum, facility improvements and retreats, according to the school's raffle page.

Last year's raffle brought in more than $175,000. This year's target is $3,500 higher.

Tickets cost $10 each or $50 for a book of five. Every family is expected to sell at least 18 tickets per student under the enrollment agreement.

The raffle also doubles as a dress-code negotiation. Students who sell 20 tickets earn out-of-uniform eligibility. Sell 40, and leggings, shorts and skorts are allowed. Hit 50, and students can wear a Mercy sweatshirt on Fridays for the rest of the year.

"Last year, I sold 20 tickets. This year, I want to sell, like, 40, so I can get leggings," sophomore Jasmine Abdelsayed told the student newspaper Newsprint Now.

Sophomore Mallory Cowgil said she plans to participate for the free-dress reward and to support what she called her Mercy community. Classmate Chloe Fogle said a Sept. 25 kickoff assembly in the gymnasium helped her understand the raffle's purpose.

The school has tied school-wide days off to fundraising milestones. If students collectively raise $50,000, they earn a day off Nov. 24. Hitting $100,000 adds Nov. 23. Reaching $125,000 unlocks May 21, 2027, and the full $178,500 goal would add March 24, 2027.

The top ticket seller in each grade wins $100 in cash, and the top overall seller wins a Dyson Airstraight. Tickets must be turned in by Monday, Oct. 5, to qualify for top-seller prizes. All ticket stubs and money must be received by 8 a.m. Friday, Oct. 9, to be eligible for the raffle drawing.

Raffle drawings will be held at the school, 29300 W. Eleven Mile Road, on Oct. 23. The grand prize is $10,000, with additional prizes of $5,000, $1,000 and $500. Gift cards to Starbucks, Target, Apple, alo and Parke are also among the prizes.

Tickets can be purchased from any current Mercy family, by calling the Advancement Office at 248-893-3531 or by requesting them online through the school's website. Donations in lieu of ticket purchases can also be made online.